"It is not just car parking - they can't compete with the big shops as well," he added.

A Middlesbrough Council spokesman said: "There is a major regeneration project going on in North Ormesby which we want everybody to benefit from, including market traders, and of course it will include an upgrading of the market square.

"There is still building work going on around the square.

"Clearly things have changed. However, we would say that there are adequate car parking spaces in James Street, which is only 100 yards from the square.

"There will be signs going up in the next few days pointing people in that direction. We would ask people to be reasonable.

"There is parking provided people don't cause a bottleneck by hogging spaces around the square."

The spokesman added: "We want to help them. We want the market to be a success."